The British Labour Party appointed a director of general election resources today in a move which will intensify speculation that Prime Minister Gordon Brown is preparing call a snap poll.
Businessman and former Tony Blair adviser Jon Mendelsohn has been drafted in to beef up the party's finances, membership and organisation in readiness to go to the country.
The newly-created role takes effect from the beginning of next month, ahead of a poll some observers believe could come as early as October or in the spring.
Mr Mendelsohn will report directly to cabinet minister Douglas Alexander, the Prime Minister's general election coordinator, and Labour general secretary Peter Watt.
The party said his voluntary role would be to "improve overall organisational efficiency and to develop the party's future financial strategies".
Speculation over an early election has been mounting as a result of a series of opinion polls showing Labour maintaining a steady lead of six or seven points over the Conservatives since Mr Brown moved to 10 Downing Street.
If realised in an election the lead would give Labour a majority of 100 or more.
A leaked memo last week showed that Labour polling guru Lord Gould had advised Mr Brown to go for "an early election after a short period of intense and compelling activity".
The Prime Minister has also set to work Cabinet Office minister, Ed Miliband, on writing the election manifesto.
However, Number 10 has played down the prospect of an October election, stressing that the manifesto-writing process is likely to continue through the autumn.
The poor state of the Labour Party's finances also suggest Mr Brown is likely to bide his time, at least until next spring, before taking on the more financially-buoyant Tories.